The 5 Best Shower Cleaners (2024 Review)

Shower cleaners are cleaning products that come in spray or foam form to break down grime, mildew stains, limescale, and other buildup on shower tiles, grout, and other shower surfaces. To help you keep your bathroom clean, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the best shower cleaners on Amazon. Here are our top five recommendations.

Top 5 Shower Cleaners

• Best Foam Cleaner: Kaboom Foam-Tastic Bathroom Cleaner
• Best For Daily Maintenance: Scrub Free Daily Shower Cleaner
• Most Versatile: The Bucko Soap Scum and Grime Cleaner
• Best For Hard Water: Bioclean Hard Water Stain Remover
• Best For Glass Doors: Rain-X Shower Door Cleaner

Compare Top Shower Cleaners

Best Foam Cleaner: Kaboom Foam-Tastic Bathroom Cleaner

Courtesy Amazon

Kaboom Foam-Tastic Bathroom Cleaner

• $8.29

Prices taken at time of publishing.

We liked that this Kaboom cleaner uses the power of OxiClean to reduce how much scrubbing you have to do and provide top-notch cleaning power. Once the foam turns from blue to white, it’s ready to be wiped away. It doesn’t leave a trace of grime or cleaner except for a citrus scent.

• $8.29 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

✔ Works for various stain types
✔ Sprays blue and turns white when it’s ready to be wiped
✔ Doesn’t require hard scrubbing

✘ Has a sprayer that can get clogged with foam
✘ Has an overwhelming scent

What Customers Are Saying

We noted that customers mentioned that this cleaner was easy to use, requiring minimal or no scrubbing, even with tough stains. Those who were unsatisfied with the product said that its strong scent made them cough while they were cleaning.

Best For Daily Maintenance: Scrub Free Daily Shower Cleaner

Courtesy Amazon

Scrub Free Daily Shower Cleaner

• $12.97
• $15.93
• 19% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

This spray is meant to help you maintain a clean shower between deep cleans. Our team noted that it works well on mildew, soap scum, and more. Because all you have to do is spray it and leave it to do its job, you can easily use it on a daily basis when you’re taking a shower.

• $12.97 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

✔ Comes with two spray bottles of product
✔ Is made so that you can spray it and then walk away
✔ Has a fresh scent

✘ Can leave residue behind
✘ Has arrived leaky for some customers

What Customers Are Saying

Reviewers stated that this spray had a pleasant scent and was effective for both daily maintenance and deep cleaning. However, we also noted that those who were unsatisfied with their purchase said that it didn’t work well on hard water spots.

Most Versatile: The Bucko Soap Scum and Grime Cleaner

Courtesy Amazon

The Bucko Soap Scum and Grime Cleaner

• $20.98

Prices taken at time of publishing.

The Bucko Soap Scum and Grime Cleaner provides a commercial-strength clean for a streak-free clean. It uses bubbles to dissolve tough stains on just about any surface in your bathroom, including glass shower doors, acrylic bathtubs, and tile and grout walls. We like that uou can also purchase it in a bottle without a sprayer, in a bottle with a sprayer, or in a gallon-size jug.

• $20.98 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

✔ Has a light scent that smells like lemon water
✔ Is designed to be non-toxic and septic-safe
✔ Labeled as being commercial-strength

✘ Doesn’t work on rust or iron stains
✘ Doesn’t come with a spray nozzle

What Customers Are Saying

Our team found that customers complimented the product’s pleasant scent and scrubbing bubbles. Most agreed that it required minimal scrubbing and provided a deep clean. Those who were unsatisfied with their purchase said that it didn’t work well on bathtub stains.

Best For Hard Water: Bioclean Hard Water Stain Remover

Courtesy Amazon

Bioclean Hard Water Stain Remover

• $17.77
• $19.77
• 10% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

We found that this biodegradable cleaner works hard to get rid of hard water stains in your shower. It has a cream consistency that’s applied to doors, walls, faucets, and other bathroom surfaces that have been exposed to hard minerals. For your convenience, the product cleans and seals in one go.

• $17.77 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

✔ Can be used on stovetops, windows, windshields, and other glass surfaces
✔ Is made to be biodegradable
✔ Works on hard water, rust, and more

✘ Needs a lot of elbow grease to work effectively
✘ Can require multiple applications for the desired results

What Customers Are Saying

Our research indicated that customers said that this product had a pleasant scent and was easy to use. However, some unsatisfied customers said that it left a residue on their bathroom surfaces, defeating the purpose of using it.

Best For Glass Doors: Rain-X Shower Door Cleaner

Courtesy Amazon

Rain-X Shower Door Cleaner

• $11.65
• $17.99
• 35% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

This liquid cleaner is designed to remove dirt, hard water stains, soap scum, and more for glass shower doors. For the best results, the manufacturer recommends applying the product to a a damp warm-water microfiber cloth then using the cloth to rub the product on your door in a circular motion. We also found that if you want to protect your door from future grime, you can follow up with Rain-X’s Shower Door Water Repellent.

• $11.65 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

✔ Is designed to leave a sparkling shine
✔ Can follow it up with Rain-X’s water-repellent product
✔ Works on hard water, soap scum, dirt, calcium, lime, and rust stains

✘ Can only be used on glass surfaces
✘ Comes in a small 12-ounce bottle

What Customers Are Saying

Most customers complimented the product for making shower glass look crystal clear. Many reviewers also noted that it worked particularly well on soap scum. Those we found who were unsatisfied with the product said that they had to scrub a lot to get it to do its job.

Buyer’s Guide

Showers quickly become filled with soap scum, hard water stains, and other grime. Finding the right cleaner can help you maintain your shower. Here are four factors we think are important to consider as you’re making a selection.

Fragrance

Some shower cleaners either smell like the harsh chemicals in their formula or something natural, such as lavender or lemon. Other cleaners may be fragrance-free. If you’re sensitive to strong smells, search for a product that has a light scent or no scent.

Surface

Some shower cleaners work on specific surfaces and can act only as a tile cleaner or glass cleaner, while others work for bathroom cleaning on various surfaces, including your shower curtains and countertops. When you’re searching for a product, be sure to scan the label for its recommended surfaces.

Grime

In addition to recommended surfaces, some cleaners have certain types of grime that they can clean. For example, some work as soap scum removers, while others tackle tough mineral stains from hard water that may build up on your shower head or floor. Multipurpose cleaners can generally remove basic grime. If your shower hasn’t been cleaned in months or you have tough stains, such as hard water or rust, choose a professional-strength, grime-specific cleaner instead.

Form

Shower cleaners can come in the form of foam, cream, or liquid. Foam cleaners tend to require the least amount of scrubbing because their bubbles break down the grime for you. On the other hand, cream and liquid cleaners have to be activated with scrubbing.

Tips For Preventing Buildup in Your Shower

Using a shower cleaner regularly is a great way to prevent your shower from building up grime and other nasty materials. However, there are also some other easy steps you can be taking to keep your shower as clean as possible. Here are some tips our team has for preventing buildup.

Keep the Shower Ventilated: Ensure your shower area has proper ventilation to reduce humidity and moisture. After showering, open windows or turn on exhaust fans to allow the steam to escape. This helps prevent mold and mildew growth, which can lead to buildup.

Use a Squeegee or Towel Dry the Area: After each shower, use a squeegee or a clean towel to wipe down the walls, glass doors, and fixtures. This removes water droplets and prevents mineral deposits from forming.

Remove Hair: Hair can easily accumulate in the shower drain, leading to clogs and buildup. Regularly remove any hair from the drain and clean the drain cover or stopper.

Use a Water Softener: If your water supply is hard water (high mineral content), consider installing a water softener system. Hard water can leave mineral deposits and soap scum, making it harder to keep your shower clean. A water softener helps reduce mineral buildup.

Avoid Using Harsh Chemicals: While it’s important to clean your shower regularly, avoid using harsh chemicals when cleaning that can damage surfaces or cause discoloration. Mild or natural cleaning solutions are preferable for keeping your surfaces in good condition. Vinegar and baking soda are also effective for removing mineral deposits and soap scum.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I clean my shower doors?

To clean your shower doors, analyze the grime. For hard water stains, use an abrasive cleaner with a damp sponge. For soap scum, use a foam cleaner and an abrasive sponge.

Should I use a squeegee on my shower doors?

Yes. Using a squeegee on a daily basis can reduce the buildup of soap scum.

How often should I clean my shower?

You should clean your shower once a week. If you have other showers in your home that are used infrequently, you can clean them once every other week. In the absence of a shower cleaner, you can quickly use a home cleaning solution of white vinegar and baking soda to help reduce messes on your shower walls and floor in between deep cleans.

Why Trust The This Old House Reviews Team

This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Reviews Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.

We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.

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